The beginnings of Penpals Together
Penpals Together
Have you ever considered that the greatest friend you may ever have is someone you have never met? They are a person living in a land you´ve never seen. Imagine the magic and delight of having an envelope fall through your letterbox from a friend in a far off place.....
I have been penpalling since I was 12 years old. I’ve been writing letters to friends around the world for forty three years. It’s a way of life. I have friends I’ve never net in Argentina, Israel, China, India, Latvia as well as Europe, America, Canada and Australia.
I am not alone. Penpalling has become a way of life for many people around the globe. Penpals have become best friends and their friendships have lasted a lifetime. Somje have even had the chance to meet each other. In 2005 I had the idea that wouldn’t it be wonderful if penpals had the opportunity to come together as a group. Penpals Together was born.
In March 2006 31 penpallers from England, America, Sweden and Australia gathered in Falmouth, England. We enjoyed five days of penpalling fellowship. We had workshops where we shared hobbies. Discussion groups were held. Then there was a fancy dress evening, a murder mystery evening and a coach trip around the Cornish countryside. We found plenty of time for shopping and chatting. We put messages in bottles and them in the sea; one was discovered quite some miles away and received an answer. Some of us were even interviewed on the local radio station.
At the end of the week there were shouts of “Can we do it again?”
Yes we sure can. And we did!
I now live in northern Spain and penpals have joined together for fellowship every year since.
Would you like to have a Penpals Together in your neck of the woods. Give me a shout. Nothing is impossible.
